Juneteenth, the Commemoration of the End of Slavery in the United States, Is Celebrated by Black Americans Every June 19Th

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To the LSU SVM Community,

We recognize the pain and suffering of many of the black members of our SVM family.

We are celebrating Juneteenth, and in light of the recent events, Stephanie Johnson has compiled a list of resources here for those in need (see below for a full list).

We see you, we care and we are listening to your needs.

Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, is celebrated by Black Americans every June 19th.

Read More About Juneteenth

Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, will be celebrated by Black Americans on Friday, June 19th amid a national reckoning on race prompted by the police killing of George Floyd and the sweeping demonstrations that followed.

Here is information about the holiday, reprinted from the news article "What to know about Juneteenth, the emancipation holiday" by NBC News correspondent Daniella Silva. The article can be read in full here. On June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger arrived with Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, and announced to enslaved Africans Americans that the Civil War had ended and they were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

At the time Lincoln issued the proclamation, there were minimal Union troops in Texas to enforce it, according to Juneteenth.com. But with the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee two months earlier and the arrival of Granger’s troops, the Union forces were now strong enough to enforce the proclamation.

The holiday, which gets its name from the combination of June and Nineteenth, is also known as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day and Black Independence Day.

“Juneteenth has always been particularly special for African Americans,” said Julian Hayter, a historian and an associate professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia. “It’s this critical inflection point in the Black freedom struggle.”

Juneteenth celebrations are held in most states, if not all, Cliff Robinson, the founder of Juneteenth.com, said.

Especially in the South, these celebrations traditionally involve events such as picnics, rodeos, religious components like church ceremonies, and education and historical services for children, he said.

In the last 15 to 20 years, more companies are celebrating it, too, he added.

“There are all kinds of Juneteenth celebrations that take place across Black communities in the United States,” Hayter, the historian, said.

Robinson urged those celebrating Juneteenth this year to take the ongoing public health threat of the coronavirus seriously by wearing masks and practicing social distancing and hand-washing.

Nearly all states recognize Juneteenth with some limited special status, but there have been calls over the years to make it a national holiday, Robinson, the Juneteenth.com founder, said.

This year, the National Football League and companies such as Nike and Twitter recognized Juneteenth as a company holiday, a move Robinson said was a sign of the changing times.

“I think that's a real take on the way things are transpiring now, a different way of doing things,” he said. “For many, many years there’s been a push for a national holiday, which hasn't taken root yet but this is an interesting way to do the same thing.”

Robinson said he has seen far more attention on his website this year, and more companies have reached out to him asking for speakers to provide virtual educational seminars on the significance of the holiday.

Hayter said the holiday this year “may hold more significance for a lot of people because of the social unrest and racial upheaval that’s taking place." But that many Americans were not aware of the holiday until recently is part of the problem, Hayter added.

“The fact that many Americans don’t know about Juneteenth is exactly why we’re at this space right now," he said. "This is seen as an addendum to American history, these are footnotes, yet they’re critical turning points for the country as a whole."

If the protests and societal reforms currently being called for lead to lasting change, Juneteenth could perhaps take on more national prominence, Hayter said.

“If the things that are happening right now have any significance, I think it might be the first time where people recognize the importance of this holiday outside the African American community and more as an American point of reflection,” he said.

Counseling Resources

Students

LSU Mental Health page: https://www.lsu.edu/shc/mental-health/index.php (no fee with student insurance) Appointment Scheduling (fees are also listed here): https://shc-web.lsu.edu/

Stephanie Johnson, LCSW (located at the SVM in the Office of Veterinary Education and Student Affairs) is available by appointment and drop in from 8:00-5:00 M-F and after hours by appointment (no fee)

Student Wellness Case Management: https://www.lsu.edu/shc/wellness/case- A case manager works to find solutions, to provide assistance, and to bridge the gap between needs and resources, both academic and personal. A case manager meets with students to assess, plan, coordinate, and facilitate referrals to providers. Finally, a case manager helps students navigate the health insurance system, including enrollment, coverage, and limitations, supporting students in becoming informed consumers of healthcare.

The case manager in the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion collaborates with partners in all units of the Student Health Center, as well as those in the campus and surrounding community to connect LSU students to health and wellness resources.

Anyone with insurance other than LSU Student Health Insurance will need to contact the individual insurance plan to inquire about mental health coverage and providers. If you should need any assistance with this process, Stephanie Johnson is happy to assist you.

Staff and Faculty

Employee Assistance Program https://www.lsu.edu/hrm/employees/employee_resources/employee_assistance_program. php

LSU First Mental Health Resources: https://www.lsu.edu/lsufirst/providers.php Resources for Aetna Signature Administrators through LSU First can be found here: https://www.aetna.com/dsepublic/#/contentPage? page=providerSearch&site_id=asa&language=en (By clicking on the Behavioral Health section, you will be taken to a listing of individual and facility providers. Resources listed with VerityHealth through LSU First http://www.verityhealth.com/index.php/lsu-first-choice-provider-search (you can search by parish)